Written Answers Wednesday 7 July 2010

Scottish Executive

Bridges

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to a further examination of the Forth Road Bridge to reconsider whether extra remedial work might extend its safe use for all vehicles.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland routinely liaise with the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) in relation to the condition of the Forth Road Bridge and will continue to do so. These discussions were well summarised publically during a recent Forth Crossing Bill committee meeting where the Forth Road Bridge chief engineer and bridgemaster gave strong and compelling evidence of the structural and operational problems facing the existing bridge. The following link refers to this Committee meeting.

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/forthXbill/or-10/fcb10-0202.htm#Col7.

  Such evidence reinforced our existing, considered conclusion that the type of extensive remedial work required to extend the use of the Forth Road Bridge for all vehicles would have severe economic implications, accordingly no further re-examination of the bridge for such purposes will be pursued.

Constitution

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33705 by Bruce Crawford on 3 June 2010 and in light of the First Minister’s comments reported in the media on 25 June 2010, whether it will abandon plans for the introduction of a referendum Bill this parliamentary session.

Bruce Crawford: No.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3F-2525 at First Minister’s Questions on 1 July 2010, which can be found in the Official Report at the following link:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-10/sor0701-02.htm#Col28143.

Local Government Expenditure

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid in councillors’ expenses in each year since 2007, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) political grouping.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.

Ministerial Travel

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by what means the (a) First Minister and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth travelled to and from London for the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary and Europe) meeting on 8 June 2010.

John Swinney: After undertaking constituency business, the First Minister flew to London from Aberdeen on 7 June 2010 for an evening meeting with the Secretary of State for Scotland. After the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) Meeting on 8 June 2010, the First Minister flew from London to Edinburgh to attend a reception at Bute House. I travelled outward by rail and returned from the JMC meeting by rail to Edinburgh.

NHS Staff

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish details of the posts to be lost as part of the proposed NHS job losses in the Greater Glasgow area.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards’ workforce planning projections were published on 3 June 2010 and can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/NHSWorkforce2010.

Roads

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the standard of maintenance of motorways and trunk roads since the responsibility was contracted out to private companies and on what basis it has made its analysis.

Stewart Stevenson: The standard of maintenance of motorways and trunk roads by the Trunk Road Operating Companies is independently monitored and audited by the Performance Audit Group (PAG) on behalf of Transport Scotland. PAG’s assessment of the performance of the operating companies is published in its annual report, which is available online at:

  http://www.performanceauditgroup.co.uk/publicat.htm.

  The most recent PAG annual report (2008-09) notes that overall, the operating companies carried out maintenance of the network well and that the standard of workmanship by the operating companies, their sub-contractors and works contractors was generally good.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the contract for the planned resurfacing works on the A76 at Mauchline was awarded.

Stewart Stevenson: The contract was awarded on 18 June 2010.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the resurfacing works on the A76 at Mauchline will begin and how long these works are expected to last.

Stewart Stevenson: The resurfacing works will commence on 12 July 2010 and are scheduled to last for 11 weeks.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with community groups and other road users regarding the resurfacing works on the A76 at Mauchline.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland and their operating company for the A76 Amey, have had detailed discussions about the impact of the works with Mauchline Community Council, the Mauchline Elderly Forum, local businesses and bus operators. In addition public meetings have been held to inform residents. East and South Ayrshire Councils, Strathclyde Police, the emergency services, and elected members have also been consulted.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has had from bus and coach operators regarding the resurfacing works on the A76 at Mauchline.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland have had representations from a local coach operator about access arrangements and the operation of their business during the works and from a national bus operator about the operation of their timetable and the use of shuttle buses during the works. The issues raised in these representations have been resolved.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when road works on the A76 at New Cumnock are scheduled to be completed and what affect this has on the timetable for resurfacing works on the A76 at Mauchline.

Stewart Stevenson: The recent works on the A76 in New Cumnock will be completed on 9 July 2010.

  The Mauchline works will start on 12 July 2010, two weeks later than originally planned, however, the first phase of the works south of Mauchline Cross will still be completed before the end of the school holidays.